Women Prisoners (Wales)

Julie Morgan:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 8 January 2002, Official Report, column 786W, on women prisoners, (a) for what crimes the 169 female prisoners were committed to prison in Wales, (b) how many had reoffended, (c) in what prisons they were placed and (d) how many spoke Welsh as their first language. [30847]

Beverley Hughes:
The table of the 169 women committed by courts in Wales and who were in the prison population on 30 November 2001, shows a breakdown by (a) offence and (b) establishment. Data on whether or not these women have been imprisoned after a reconviction are collected, but would take a few weeks to process. I shall therefore write to my hon. Friend with the information. Data on the languages spoken by prisoners are not collected centrally, and so cannot be provided.

Females committed in Wales to prison by offence type and establishment

Numbercommitted

Offence type

Drug offences

32

Other thefts

22

Wounding

21

Robbery

17

Burglary

14

Arson

9

Handling stolen goods

7

Murder

6

Offence not recorded

6

Manslaughter

5

Other motoring offences

5

Frauds

5

Other criminal offences

4

Assaults

4

Cruelty to children

4

Other homicide or attempted homicide

2

Threat/disorderly behaviour

1

Criminal damage

1

In charge or driving under the influence of drink or drugs

1

Perjury/libel/perverting the course of justice

1

Affray

1

Other offences of violence against the person

1

Total

169

Establishment

Foston Hall

11

Durham

3

Eastwood Park

66

Brickhill

2

Winchester

2

Bullwood Hall

4

Highpoint

14

Styal

28

Send

2

Drake Hall

17

Downview

4

East Sutton Park

1

Morton Hall

3

Low Newton

2

New Hall

7

Askham Grange

2

Cookham Wood

1

Total

169

31 Jan 2002 : Column 528W

Work Permits (Shortage Occupations)

Mr. Truswell:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applicants, broken down by category, have been admitted under the fast track scheme for shortage occupations in information technology since 1 October 1999. [30998]

Angela Eagle:
The number of work permits approved under the shortage occupation category for information technology occupations since 21 January 2000 is 20,292. This is the date that information technology occupations were first included on the work permit shortage occupation list.

Mr. Truswell:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what basis Oracle database administration was included on the list of shortage occupations for the purposes of the fast track work permit scheme. [30999]

Angela Eagle:
Oracle database administrator was included on the work permit shortage occupation list following consultation with representatives from the information technology communications and electronics sector and other Government Departments.

Mr. Truswell:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he has taken to ensure that the employment market data used to inform the fast track work permit scheme for shortage occupations is (a) accurate and (b) up to date. [31000]

Angela Eagle:
The Home Department consults regularly on relevant and current labour market issues with other Government Departments and representatives from those sectors of industry that are included on the work permit shortage occupation list.

Mr. Truswell:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what data were used to compile the list of shortage occupations in information technology for the purposes of the fast track work permit system. [31001]

Angela Eagle:
Regular consultation with a panel of representatives from the information technology communications and electronics sector and other Government Departments provides up-to-date information on the information technology labour market. This allows the Department to make informed decisions about the compilation of the work permit shortage occupation list.

Keith Hellawell

Paul Flynn:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the responsibilities and salary of Mr. Keith Hellawell. [16890]

Mr. Bob Ainsworth:
Mr. Hellawell has been engaged to work part-time, initially to support the work being undertaken to assist the European Union (EU) applicant countries prepare the necessary drug strategies and related infrastructure to meet drug-related requirements of EU membership.

Details of individual special adviser salaries below £90,000 are not disclosed to protect the individual.

People Trafficking

Simon Hughes:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been

31 Jan 2002 : Column 529W

(a) prosecuted and (b) convicted for people smuggling offences in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [29641]

Mr. Bob Ainsworth:
The available information, from the Home Office Court Proceedings Database, relating to England and Wales for the years 1996 to 2000, is shown in the table. These data cover proceedings under the

Knowingly concerned in making or carrying out arrangements for securing or facilitating the obtaining by anyone of leave to remain in the UK by means which he knows or has reasonable cause for believing to include deception

Knowingly concerned in making or carrying out arrangements for securing or facilitating the obtaining by anyone of leave to remain in the UK by means which he knows or has reasonable cause for believing to include deception

(28) Staffordshire police force were only able to submit sample data for persons proceeded against and convicted in the magistrates courts for the year 2000. Although sufficient to estimate higher orders of data these data are not robust at a detailed level and have been excluded from this table.

(29) Not applicable.

Firearms Consultative Committee

Ms Shipley:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will extend the life of the Firearms Consultative Committee. [32768]

Mr. Denham:
The life of the Firearms Consultative Committee will be extended for a further period of two years from 1 February 2002.